Election watchdog demands law change
By politics.co.uk staff
Over 1,000 people who were prevented from voting when polling stations closed because of queues should never have to face the same situation again, the elections watchdog has said.
The Electoral Commission said in a report on the election published today that the law should be changed to ensure all those waiting to vote at 22:00 BST on future polling days are allowed to do so.
But the government did not immediately accept the report’s findings, issuing a holding statement which pledged to “look closely” at the issues.
Today’s report called for a “comprehensive electoral modernisation strategy” after polling found three out of ten voters said they were not very or not at all confident that the elections had been well-run.
In 2009 two-thirds of people said the elections were well-run, indicating a dramatic decline in voter satisfaction.
Reports on election night said voters were not allowed to cast their ballot in Manchester Withington, Chester, Penistone, Hackney South and Nick Clegg’s constituency Sheffield Hallam.
The Electoral Commission said 1,200 people were affected at 27 polling places in 16 constituencies. It blamed “poor planning, the use of unsuitable buildings, inadequate staffing arrangements and the failure of contingency plans” for the failures.
“We want the government to change the law to make clear that eligible electors
who are entitled to vote at a polling station and who are in the queue to enter the
polling station at the close of poll will be allowed to vote,” the report said.
It also attacked “poorly designed ballot papers and voter materials”, pressed the need to further strengthen the security of postal voting and suggested reviewing the case for requiring proof of identity for voters at polling stations.
“Voter confidence is fragile and may take time to re-build after high profile problems like the ones experienced at some polling stations at 10pm,” Electoral Commission chair Jenny Watson said.
“In the vast majority of constituencies elections were well run – but this is despite the system, not because of it.”
A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: “The government welcomes the Electoral Commission’s report and will look closely at the issues and recommendations contained in it.
“A response to the report will be made once the government has had time to consider it fully and hear the views of other stakeholders.”
